I'll chime in with my 2 cents on this one. I have two examples of this particular sword. One, a standard issue, the other, a more elaborate example, purhaps for a soldier of some standing or body guard to an officer. Note the watered blade.
I believe this style to be a late 19th century, c. 1880 model afgan sword. I have a photo from a book as well. It is dated August of 1879. It pictures General Daoud Shah, the Afgan Cammander-in-Chief and his body guard who has one of these swords at his side.
